Total Shoulder Replacement for Relieving Arthritis Pain in Shoulder
To help you discuss treatment options with your orthopedic surgeon, here’s a breakdown of Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery, also known as Shoulder Arthroplasty.
Advanced arthritis in the shoulder joint can make it difficult to move, lift the arm and carry out various activities. To treat advanced arthritis, your doctor may recommend a total shoulder replacement, also called a total shoulder arthroplasty.
What Is Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery/Total Shoulder Arthroplasty?
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint. In a Total Joint Replacement Surgery, both the ball and the socket portions are replaced by implants to create a new joint.
The traditional procedure uses an implant to replace the ball, which can involve a lot of bone removal. We use Simpliciti, a shoulder-replacement system that secures the implant in place without using an implant, resulting in a minimal loss of bone structure.
Simpliciti is a canal-sparing shoulder replacement system that does not use a stem implant. Instead, its nucleus design secures the implant in place with minimal loss of bone structure.
Using the Simpliciti shoulder replacement system has the following advantages over traditional surgery:
- Easier placement of the implant
- Reduced operating time
- Less blood loss
- Less pain after surgery
- Faster recovery
- Less bone loss
What Is the Surgical Procedure of Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery?
The orthopedic surgeon performs Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery according to the following procedure:
- The surgeon makes an incision between the shoulder and chest muscles to access the shoulder, dislocates the joint, brings the humeral head forward, and removes any bony overgrowths.
- The surgeon uses a guide to determine the humeral inclination, and resects the humeral head.
- The surgeon uses a guide pin to place a humeral implant sizer. The surgeon removes the sizer and the resected surface is planed flat.
- The surgeon uses the guide pin to drill the bone and place the trial head implant. The guide pin is then removed and the humeral surface protected while the glenoid surface is prepared.
- The surgeon reduces the shoulder joint and tests it to determine if the size is appropriate and does not interfere with movement.
- The surgeon discolates the shoulder joint, and removes the trial implant and component. The surgone impacts a nucleus implant into the bone and fixes the final humeral head implant.
- The surgeon performs soft tissue repairs and closes the incisions.
What Happens After Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery?
Following Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery, the sling is removed the next day and the shoulder joint is mobilized. The patient is encouraged to use the arm through routine activities, and can usually begin shoulder strengthening exercises in about eight weeks.
If advanced arthritis is causing you pain and discomfort that is affecting your wellbeing and quality of life, see if Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery may be the right solution for you.